FINAL: Kentucky WBB ends four-game losing streak, holds off Alabama 67-63
For just the third time this season, Rhyne Howard was held to single-digits in scoring. But for the 10th time this season, Kentucky Women’s Basketball came out as the victor.
Down in Tuscaloosa on Sunday afternoon, Kentucky (10-11; 3-8 in SEC) broke its four-game losing streak, taking down the Alabama Crimson Tide (12-11; 3-9 in SEC) by a final score of 67-63. It was a tightly contested matchup from the middle of the first quarter on, but UK scrounged up enough offense and stood stout on defense to earn a much-needed win.
Kentucky shot just 37.5 percent from the floor and 3-17 from beyond the arc but forced 18 Alabama turnovers while holding the Tide to just 39 percent shooting of its own. UK’s bench outscored Alabama’s by 30 in the process.
Kentucky started this game off the same way nearly all of its contests have begun this season: in an early hole. In the blink of an eye, UK trailed Alabama 11-2 not even four minutes into the afternoon. The Wildcats were struggling to find a groove on offense, but finally discovered it as the first quarter was coming to a close, mainly thanks to its defense. Kentucky went from trailing 15-8 at the 3:19 mark to down by just one, 20-19, heading into the second frame.
Nearly two minutes into the second period, Kentucky took its first lead of the game at 23-22. From there, the two sides would exchange blows over the next several minutes. At the break, the ‘Cats held onto a minor 29-28 advantage. All nine available scholarship players scored in the first half for UK, led by eight points from Dre’Una Edwards. Howard had just four points on 2-5 shooting in 14 first-half minutes.
The third quarter was another back-and-forth battle. Alabama would lead by as many as three while Kentucky would lead by as many as four, but neither team could break away for a backbreaking run. Edwards picked up right where she left off in the first half, dropping 12 of UK’s 16 points in the third frame. Howard, who injured her hand in the previous outing against South Carolina, played just five minutes in the period after picking up an early third foul. With just 10 minutes left, the Wildcats were barely holding on to a 45-44 lead.
Sticking with the theme of the second and third quarters, the score remained tight entering the fourth. Alabama went up two at one point, 52-50, before Howard canned her first bucket of the second half to tie the game with over six minutes left. At this point, fatigue slowly began to set in down the stretch for both teams until Kentucky managed to establish a small amount of wiggle room. Alabama had multiple chances to either tie the game or take the lead in the final 30 seconds but ultimately couldn’t find the basket.
In the end, Kentucky held on to end its four-game losing streak, taking down Alabama 67-63 thanks to some clutch free throws from Howard in the closing possessions. The reigning two-time SEC Player of the Year finished with nine points, nine rebounds, and five assists on 3-10 shooting. Edwards led UK with her 24 points, which she needed 23 shots to reach. Six different Wildcats finished with at least five points.
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